Our Favorite Destination is the Next One!

An Old Friend: Hotel Ottumwa

*We have the pleasure of showcasing many lodging partners during our travels and Hotel Ottumwa came thru again. Our stay here was complimentary and the opinions expressed in this blog post are of our own. Now, let’s Gallivant!

Yes, it can be this fun checking into a historic place like Hotel Ottumwa

We’ve been on this Iowa Gallivant adventure for almost five years and one of the towns that we’ve written about the most is Ottumwa. From RAGBRAI coverage to our favorite tacos and two rounds of Christmas trips, this town has kept us entertained many times. We’ve met many friends along the way including the staff at Hotel Ottumwa. They have been our lodging partner before and they were again during our recent return trip for the holiday season!

Check in and get stocked up! Iowa wines, beers, snacks, and souvenirs are ready for you to take up to your room as you start to unwind at Hotel Otttumwa.

Our beds were just right for this papa bear and the fridge, microwave and coffee machine all came in quite handy. The historic feel of the hotel can be felt the whole time while you enjoy some modern day perks, like a large flat screen TV!

If you need a place that’s close by for breakfast then just head down to the lobby and you’ll find it pretty quick. A full breakfast menu is served hot at the 2nd Street Cafe and you can get featured options if you’re a guest at the Hotel Otttumwa. Like a HUGE cinnamon roll, biscuits and gravy, pancakes with sausage and more!

Now that’s a cold one! Or couple..

Need a nightcap? No problemo! Tom-Tom’s Tap is just a sharp turn from the lobby and it has the neighborhood feel that welcomes out-of-towners like myself all at the same time. Tom-Tom’s is one of the places I will always stop by when I’m in Ottumwa because of the nostalgic feel I get. I pay no attention to the TVs as I let myself absorb into the glow from the amazing black light artwork that towers over the bar. What do you travel for? I, for one, will drive and stay at a place just for this. A welcoming and very friendly hotel staff and a historic tavern that just makes you wonder if you can take it with you when you depart. I don’t ask for much at all when I travel. I just want real experiences with locals that will be themselves. That’s what we get in Ottumwa every time and that why we’ll be back for years to come. Hotel Ottumwa is truly a friend of ours and we value the times we’ve had here. Tell Tom-Tom we said, Hi!